Starring in the TLC reality series, Miami Ink, has made Kat Von D a prominent television figure in America, but not everything associated with her success has been good.

"I feel like I have a lot more responsibility as far as showing tattooing in a good light," Von D told the New York Daily News.  "The tattooing industry, they love me or hate me.  It's different when you're on TV, everything you're doing is overanalyzed by your peers."

Kat Von D's time in the limelight is far from over, as she is starring in her own reality series, LA Ink, which premiered last night on TLC.  After conflicting with Miami Ink's Ami James, the 25-year-old tattoo artist packed up her bags, headed back to Los Angeles and opened her own shop, High Voltage Tattoo.

"I've built this shop from the ground up," she said.  "It's all me. I've put my heart and soul into it. You'll be able to see that in this show."

Unlike Miami Ink, Kat Von D's new reality series features a cast dominated by female tattoo artists. It also promises to have more celebrities as guests, given Von D's A-list clientele.  Last night's premiere featured actor Eric Balfour (24, The West Wing) getting inked with an image of a skull and butterflies.

The network has taken great measures in promoting LA Ink, from giant billboards to fold-out images of Von D's heavily tattooed body on major magazines.  However, Von D admitted that she has not spent that much time checking out the show's promos.

"It's kind of like hearing your voice on an answering machine," she said.  "That's my face on a 20-story billboard. I just think I'm a big nerd."

Nevertheless, it cannot be denied that Von D has gained a large and loyal following, some of whom she would never have expected to become fans.

"I get people coming up to me saying, 'You're awesome,"' she said.  "That's a lot different from the days when I used to go to the mall and people would hold their kids back."

LA Ink airs every Tuesday at 10pm on TLC.


-Lisa Claustro, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: New York Daily News
(Image Courtesy of Dallas Morning News)